Target



May 30, 1939. A A. THQMPSQN 2,160,425

TARGET v Filed April 21 1958 lin/67%? Patented May 3o, 1939 UNITED STATES TARGET Arden A. Thompson, Tauntomlllass., assigner of one-half to Lawrence McElwee, Boston, Mass.l

Application April 21,

10 Claims.

This invention relates to a target for archery and other similar games.

One object of my invention is to provide a superior construction for a target which is durable, 5 which presents a smoother and more attractive appearance and is more compact and lighter in weight than targets now commonly used.v Another object is to provide a target which will withstand rainy and inclement weather.

A further object is'to provide a target which may be simply folded into a compact bundle which, in conjunction with its said lightness, makes it possible for one person to conveniently carry it. Additional objects are to provide such a target that is reversible, that is, has two faces, can be readily repaired or reconstructed, and which, due to these advantages is more economical to use than the targets now in general use.

The foregoing and other objects which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, may be accomplished by a construction, combination and arrangement of parts such as is disclosed by the drawing and specification. The nature of the invention is such as to render it susceptible to various changes and modifications, and, therefore, I am not to be limited to said disclosure; but am entitled to all such changes therefrom as fall within the scope of my claims.

In the drawing:.

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of my target in position for use.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view somewhat in perspective of my target in folded condition with the handle member extending between and above the two sections where it can readily be grasped to carry the target.

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Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view, broken away, of an outer edge portion of my target where the two sections are connected.

As illustrated, the target T preferably consists of two half sections I0 and Il, which are movably joined by means of joining plates l2 on 45 each side thereof which extend from one said section to the other, thereby making it possible to fold the half sections I0 and Il over on each other and hold them together, thus reducing the size of the target for this purpose almost Vonehalf. Inasmuch as targets are usually three vto four feet in diameter, this folding feature is of considerable advantage by making it possible for a person to conveniently carry it.

The main body or base I5 of said target T is made of tough, elastic material such as cork, the

1938, Serial N0. 293,305 l material preferably consisting of slabs of socalled insulation cork or sheet cork board. Such cork has been broken into granules, baked and compressed, which causes the natural gum in it to liquefy, spread and harden, thereby providing a solid material which makes it most desirable for my target. A thickness of 2 inches for said base I5 has been found suitable, as the compactness of the material is such that this base Will stop and retain the targets.

Outside said base I5 I provide sealing means I 6 of resilient material, preferably inthe form of commercial sponge rubber, to thoroughly bind the cork body I5 and prevent the loosening or breaking away of any particles from the repeated puncturing of the target. Itis united preferably by an adhesive l1, such as glue or cement. A thickness of 3% inch of` this sealing material I6 has proven satisfactory.

Extending around the outside edge or periphery of'my target Iprovide an edging strip I8 of more rigid material which may be of wood, metal or any strong, light material, to which pins or bolts I9 may be fastened. A thickness of 1/8 inch is suitable. Said pins or bolts I9 extend through a said edging strip I8 and through a said plate I2 as shown, thereby providing hinge means to permit the folding and unfolding of said sections I6 and II while they are joined together. This strip I8 is preferably of less width than the edge of the target, as shown in Figure 3 of the drawing.

Extending around and enclosing said sealing means I6 and said edging strip I8 is a binder 20,

preferably of a thin, pliable and tough material such as fabric, which can be replaced as needed without disturbing the remainder of my target. Its edges may overlap at the straight edge of each section I 0 and Il, as illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawing, and be cemented or sewed together.

As illustrated, each section Ill and II is a separate unit, being joined by said joining plates I2; but this target could, of course, be made as a single unit, instead of sectional.

To more conveniently carry my target I provide a flexible handle 22 such as a strap, cord or chain, fastened as at 23 at two places to the edging strip I8, these fastening places being chosen so that the said handle 22, whendrawn between the two said sections when folded, will extend beyond the straight edges of said sections at a point about the middle of the target, as illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawing, to provide a handle portion 24, thereby enabling a person to carry the target evenly balanced. By fastening a portion of said handle at another place to make it shorter, as illustrated in Figure 1, it may be used to hang the target on a tripod, the handle 22 extending rmly across the section I it is fastened to. It can be replaced over the top of the tripod and allowed to settle in position to that portion of the tripod where the spread causes the said handle to bind on the tripod legs, to'thereby retain the target there. Y

The finished targets are uniform in thickness and texture throughout and therefore provide uniform resistance to the penetration of arrows at all points. Y

What I claim is:

1. A target comprising a body of cork, a sealing member outside said body of rubber, a binding member of fabric outside said cork and sealing member, and a strip of material at the outside edge of said body.

2. A target comprising a body of cork, a sealling member of rubber outside of and in contact edge of and in contact with said body, and a binding member of fabric forming the outside surface of said target.

3. A target comprising a body of sheet board cork, a sealing member outside said body of sponge rubber, a binding member of fabric outside said cork and sealing member, and a strip of material at the outside edge of said body.

4. A target comprising a body of tough, elastic material, a sealing member outside said body of greater elasticity than said body material, a binding member oi thin, pliable material outside said body and sealing member, and a strip of material of greater rigidity than said body material at the outside edge of said body.

5. A target comprising two sections, and means movably holding said sections together, edging strips extending around the edges of said sections, and joiningmeans extending between said sections and pin means extending from said edging strips to said joining means to movably hold sections together.

6. A target comprising two sections, means movably holding said sections together, a flexible handle member attached to one of said sections at the edge thereof at two different points, said member being of such length that it can extend between and beyond said sections when they are folded together.

7. AV targ-et comprising two sections, means movably holding said sections together, each said section having a main body of cork, sealing means of rubber outside said cork, a strip of material more rigid than said body material at the o tside edge of said body, and a fabric outside o said body and sealing means, and means extending from one said section to the other, and instrumentalities mounted to and extending from said strip to said latter means movably holding said sections together and permitting them to be folded upon one another.

8. A target comprising two sections, means movably holding said sections together, each said section having a main body of cork, sealing. means of rubber outside said cork, a strip of material more rigid than said body material at the outside edge of said body, and a fabric outside of said body and sealing means, two plates at opposite sides extending from one said section to the other and pin members extending from said strip to said plates movably holding said sections to- Ygether and permittingthcm tolse folded upon one another. y l, Y

9. A target comprising two sections forming the whole, means movably holding said sections together, each said section having a main body of sheet board cork, sealing means of sponge rubber thinner than and outside said cork, a strip of material more rigid than said body material at the outside edge of said body of less width than the edge of a said section, and a fabric outside of said body, sealing means and strip, and means extending from one said section to the other, and instrumentalities mounted to and extending from said strip to said latter means movably holding said sections together and permitting them to be folded upon one another.

. 10. A target the main body of which comprises a tough elastic material such as cork, and elastic, non-metallic material such as rubber .outside said main body, and an adhesive holding said second-mentioned material to said main body, said second-mentioned material being held to said main body at the front and back thereof.

ARDEN A. THOMPSON. 

